Approaching the Firing Line

[Blackout]

No! Bullet! *I get to my feet and run for the van door as a drac grabs me.* Let me go! *I squirm out of his grasp and get to the window to watch Bullet being beaten by another crow. Tears come to my eyes as I'm torn away and the van drives off.* Bullet!
Too late for goodbyes killjoy, now stop struggling before I sedate you.
*I happen to glance down at his ID and see his name is Damian.* Like im going to listen to the friggin Devil's son! *I continue to struggle and land a few solid kicks to his legs and a couple jabs to his ribs.*
Alright that's enough!
*His form of sedation was punching my head hard enough to make me collapse in his arms and almost black out. While I try to keep awake he rebinds my hands and ankles.*
God, you killjoys are all the same, stubborn and suicidal. *he says as he shoves me to the floor of the van.*
*I glare at him and try to get to my feet.* You would be too if you were in our shoes.
*He laughs and kicks her back down.* And why would I ever want to be in your filthy shoes?

[Blackout]

*I glare at him.* If you knew what we had to go through every day to survive then you would understand.
Young lady what I don't understand is why you always resist the help BLI tries to provide you killjoys.
I resist because I don't want my brothers to live their lives as 'happy' pill pushers, I want them to live a true life!
*He glares at her.* I wanted my brother to be able to live his life, but because of one of you damn killjoys he's dead!
*He takes off his mask and his blond hair and blue eyes look very familiar.*
What are you looking a-
What was his name?

[Blackout]

*He glares again.* Why do you care?
*I wait a second before speaking softly.* Was it Carson? *He stands up quickly and shoves me into the wall of the van with a hand at my throat and my gun at my head.*
Just what kind of game are you playing at killjoy? Keep in mind that one wrong word and I will blow your head off, orders or no!
*i manage to get a breath to speak.* He saved my life... A long time ago...
*He snarls at her and cocks the gun.* Liar! My brother would never help a lowly killjoy like you!
But he did- *I'm cut off as he whips the butt of my gun into my head and I feel blood run down my neck.*

[Blackout]

Go ahead killjoy, keep talking, I dare you.
I'm telling... The truth...
You expect me to believe that bull shit? *He tightens his grip on her throat and gets in her face.* What makes you think that I'd believe a single word that came out of your lying mouth?
Because... I saved his life! *I try to hold onto my last seconds of breath before I start to black out and then I'm dropped to the floor of the van, coughing and gasping for air. Once I can breathe somewhat normally I feel two other dracs pick me up by my arms and force my head up to look at Damian.*

[Blackout]

*He bends down and holds the gun near her head again.* Explain, now!
*The memory plays out in my head as I talk.* It must have been a couple years ago, I had first started out on my own as a killjoy and ran into a few dracs, Carson was one of them. They attacked me first and i did the sensible thing and fought back. I did wound Carson-
You did what?!
*I make a small strangled noise as the gun is jabbed into my neck.* But I didn't kill him! I patched him up and made sure he got back to Battery! He would have died if i didn't!
*He narrows his eyes and jabs the gun harder.* What was his wound?
*I speak very quickly.* Dagger to the stomach, gash less than an inch long, some internal damage, about an inch above his navel.

[Blackout]

*I see his gaze soften for a moment and he moves the gun from my neck but keeps it aimed at me. Then he suddenly glares at me again and grabs my throat and squeezes the air out of it.*
Then that means you must be the killjoy that caused his death!
No! He died... Trying to save me... He chose to... Instead of... Letting me be taken... To Battery...
Don't give me that shit! The report said he was killed by a killjoy!
Report... Was wrong... Patrol leader... Beat him... Shot him... Saw it happen...
But you would say that wouldn't you? Because you're a lying little bitch!
*He squeezes my throat harder and I feel my eyes blaze gold.* I stayed with him... Til he died... Tried to save him... Can show you grave...

[Blackout]

*The eyes startle me but I keep choking her.* Tell me where it is!
Zone 4... *This time the tunnel closes in on me but I manage to squeak out the last word before spiraling into unconsciousness.* Monroeville...

*I wake up when someone slaps my face and mockingly says 'look alive sunshine.' I slowly get up and look around. I've been dragged out of the van and can see the old neighborhood that was Monroeville in the distance. I sigh at the memories that come back to me, including one of meeting a certain killjoy who would later become my best friend. Then a sudden yank to my feet breaks my moment of nostalgia.*
Well? what are you standing around for? Show me his grave now!
Sorry, but unless you intend to carry me, I cant really go anywhere. *I gesture to my leg restraints.*

[Blackout]

No you will walk. But just to make sure you dont run off...
*Before i can move he shoots a bullet into my leg and I yell in pain, much to the amusement of the dracs.* You bastard!
What's wrong killjoy? Can't take a little pain? *He smirks and cuts her leg ties before yanking her to her feet and shoving her forward.* Get moving killjoy, we havent got all day.
*I manage to not collapse and limp towards a dead tree in the distance. Standing upright is a makeshift tombstone with a drac ID hanging around it.* That's it right there, it was the best i could do for him.
*Damian picks up the ID and looks it over.* This is his. How did you say he died again?
I think about a week after I helped him, his patrol found me out here and I tried to hide in one of those houses. *i jerk my head towards Monroeville.* They caught me and after they loaded me into the van, Carson slipped me some lock picks to escape. After that I watched his crow leader beat him and then shoot him in the head for helping me. *I feel my throat tighten a bit as I talk.* It didn't kill him right away but I still tried to help him. I held his hand and stayed near him as he died.

[Blackout]

*After a while he puts the ID back on the tombstone and looks at the killjoy.* I suppose you were telling the truth about Carson, but that doesn't change the fact that you're still our captive and you are still going to Battery City to be made better *He looks to the other dracs.* Bind her legs again and get her back in the van.
*They grab me and I try to get their hands off but its hard to do when your hands are tied behind your back* Ow! hey let go! *One of them kicks my bad leg and i collapse to my knees.* And you say killjoys fight dirty!

[Blackout]

You may have helped my brother in the past, but that doesn't change the fact that you're a killjoy. *He bitterly spits out the last word.* And had you just went to Battery like a good girl then I would still have him!
*I try to get to my feet but a hand pushing down on the back of my head keeps me on the ground as my legs are retied.* I did what I could to save him! I'm- *I'm cut off as he suddenly back hands me across my face.*
Don't you dare say you're sorry! You should be the one six feet under, not Carson!

[Blackout]

*I spit out a glob of blood at his feet and glare at him so fiercely that my gold eyes are now tinged red.* You can try and make me better, but just know that I am going to make it a damn hard time for you fuckers.
*Again with the eyes, they really creep the shit out if me.* Just get her in the van so I don't have to look at her anymore.
*I'm dragged back to the van after a good bit of fighting and I'm literally thrown into the van. My head hits the metal floor of the van and I'm out for the rest of the ride to Battery City.*

[Blackout]

Wake up killjoy.
*I mumble curses under my breath but then get up when a boot connects with my ribs. Damian and another drac take my arms and push me out of the van and walk me into the Tower.*
*He takes out a radio.* Tower this is unit 4, killjoy has been apprehended and is being brought in for interrogation.
*I could feel the blood drain from my face a bit as the door to the Tower gets closer and I start struggling and digging my feet in.* No! Let go of me! You're not taking me in there! *Another drac runs out with a syringe and jabs a mild sedative into my arm. I slump and they half carry half drag me into the Tower.*

[Blackout]

*I'm walked inside with a drac one on either side and Damien behind me and the place is painfully white compared to what I'm used to. Several workers look uneasily at me and I amuse myself by growling and snapping at them to freak them out even more, and laughing insanely at their reactions.*
*He strikes the back of her head.* Savage bitch.
*I stumble and glare back at him.* Stuck up pill pusher! *I easily dodge his next punch and smirk at him.*
*He glares back at her.* You're very lucky i am not authorized to kill you.
*My smirk widens at that little bit of info.* Is that so? That means I get to annoy the shit out of you even more and not get severely punished for it!

[Blackout]

*he presses his gun to the back of her neck.* Oh I can punish you, just not kill you.
But you wish you could kill me, don't you? Real shame that you can't though.
Don't test my patience killjoy-
The only thing I'm testing is how long it will take before your face becomes as red as Party Poison's hair, and so far you're making good time, you might even beat Korse's record.

[Blackout]

Why I oughta-
Right now I'd say it's about Kobra Kid's jacket.
*He tightens his grip on the gun.* I swear if you don't shut up-
Now it's closer to Party's hair. Never thought I'd say this, but killjoy colors look good on you. *The punch comes so fast that I can't react in time and I'm knocked into the wall where I take several more hits before the other dracs pull him off of me. I carefully use my tongue to test my teeth and thankfully none feel loose, but I can feel several cuts on my face and my chest hurt, probably a cracked rib or two. I spit a gob of blood onto the white floor.* Somebody has anger problems.